The Mexico City Conclusions on “Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Women Migrant Workers: Partnerships for Migration and Human Development: Shared Prosperity – Shared Responsibility," co‐organized by the Government of Mexico and UNIFEM (part of UN Women), 7‐8 September 2010, Mexico City, Mexico. PREAMBLE The participants of the High‐Level Pre‐GFMD IV Consultation, “Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Women Migrant Workers: Partnerships for Migration and Human Development: Shared Prosperity – Shared Responsibility, co‐organized by the Government of Mexico and UNIFEM (part of UN Women) in Mexico City, on the 7‐8 September, 2010, as representatives from governments, UN, other international organisations and civil society, from over 20 countries in 5 continents, Reaffirming the fundamental principles and commitments to gender equality, women’s empowerment and women migrants’ rights; Recognizing that 2010 has been a significant year for women, commemorating milestone events on gender equality and women´s empowerment – (the 30th anniversary of CEDAW), the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, the establishment of the UN Agency for Gender Equality and Women´s Empowerment (UN Women), which holds out a fresh promise for advance on the gender equality and women´s empowerment agenda, the high level MDG Summit which can further promote gender equality and women´s empowerment, Recalling all previous resolutions on violence against women migrant workers adopted by the General Assembly, the Commission on the Status of Women and the Commission on Human Rights, as well as the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women; and Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 on Women Peace and security, Affirming, the gender equality outcomes of Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), Brussels, 2007; GFMD, Manila, 2008, GFMD Athens, 2009, Conscious that while migration presents a window of opportunity for women, it also comes with risks, and, Noting the large numbers of women from developing countries and some countries with economies in transition – those of who are undocumented and trafficked ‐ who venture to more affluent countries in search of livelihoods for themselves and their families, as a consequence of, inter alia, poverty, gender‐
based violence, unemployment and other socio‐economic conditions, Recognising that macro‐economic and trade policies help to shape the gender, migration and development nexus, and acknowledging that States of origin, transit and destination can work together to promote development partnerships that aim to promote decent employment and security to the poor, especially women in developing countries, Acknowledging that migrant women workers are development actors and contribute by way of remittances, skills, culture and labour to States of origin, transit and destination; and , Further acknowledging the need for sex disaggregated data, gender sensitive migration policies, programs and budgets, livelihoods and asset accumulation, and support services for families in countries of origin, transit and destination; Concerned by the continuing reports of the grave human rights abuses committed against all categories of women migrant workers at all stages of migration, and that women migrants, including domestic workers, may not receive adequate labor law protection; Reiterating that acts of violence directed against women migrant workers impair or prevent their enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and thwart the development potential of migration, Recognizing that migration is a multilayered, complex phenomenon that requires multisector, multi stakeholder collaboration within and between States of origin, transit and destination, 2
Encouraged by joint strategies adopted by some States of origin to promote and protect the rights of outgoing and returning women migrant workers and some countries of destination to address the challenges faced by women migrant workers residing within their jurisdiction, Call upon participating States and civil society organizations of the Fourth Meeting of GFMD in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 8‐11 November 2010, to: •
Make gender equality and rights of women migrants an organic and integral part of all future GFMD deliberations. •
Promote empirical, analytical and policy related research on: o women´s emigration, immigration and return and its social and cultural impacts o irregular migration, people smuggling and human trafficking o the labor and social rights of women migrant workers, especially domestic workers at all stages o economic and social impact of migration of women including remittances, their transfer and use, support to families in countries of origin, transit and destination o the impact of bilateral and multilateral agreements between countries of origin, transit and destination [related to rights protection and welfare of women migrants o the impact of macroeconomic and trade policies on women´s out‐migration o challenges posed by the global care economy and care chains o gender sensitive good practices on the above themes, to inform policy development and implementation. •
Mainstream a gender sensitive human rights perspective and provisions to eliminate stigma and discrimination, including for domestic workers, into migration, labor, population and development policies, legislation, PRS, plans and budgets, with strong accountability mechanisms at national/local levels in countries of origin, transit and destination, •
Foster policies and programmes to combat labor segregation of women migrant workers in countries of destination •
•
Recognize domestic work as work and provide labor and social protection to domestic workers Foster gender sensitive policies on social protection health, insurance, pension, etc) remittance transfer, productive investments, family reunification and support to families in counties of origin and destination Address protections for women migrant workers, including domestic and care workers, in any bilateral and multilateral agreements between countries of origin and destination •
3
•
Strive towards achieving and declaring a minimum inclusive and gender sensitive policy cooperation between the country of origin, transit and destination on managing migration of women workers in a manner that will enhance their protection and welfare. •
Provide information to and raise awareness of women migrants on the costs and benefits of migration, human rights of women migrants and the use of regular migration channels; •
Conduct rights‐based pre‐departure orientations, provide skills training, training on savings mobilization, safe remittance transfers, productive investment for women migrants, including domestic workers in countries of origin, transit and destination •
Provide gender sensitive support services for families of migrant workers in countries of origin, transit and destination •
Raise community and male consciousness on assuming responsibility for domestic work and child care and provide support services to men on the same •
Implement campaigns to eliminate stigma, discrimination and violence against women migrant workers, specially domestic workers •
Strengthen the capacity of migrant women workers, including domestic workers, and their
associations/organizations to advocate for policies and programmes that address their concerns and to claim their entitlements
‐Incorporate the outcomes of this High level Consultation as a support document and as substantive input to the background papers, deliberations and outcomes of the GFMD, more specifically to RT 1.1 on Promoting Regular and Protected Migration of Women Migrant Workers, RT2.1 on Labour Mobility‐Strategies for Human development, RT 2.2 on Gender, Family and Migration and RT 3.1 Assessing the impact of migration on the economic and social development and addressing its cause‐effect relationship. ‐Facilitate sharing of good practice multi sector/stakeholder strategies on promoting women´s regular migration; promoting safe working conditions, access to justice and to social services; preventing sexual and domestic abuse of migrant workers, especially female populations at risk and providing gender sensitive services to families in countries of origin, transit and destination ‐Develop concrete programs on the basis of voluntary partnerships to implement outcomes of GFMD RT 2.2, as well as collaborative pilot projects to demonstrate good practices for women’s safe migration across the entire migration cycle. ‐Call on participating GFMD countries to fully engage in the development of the ILO Convention on domestic workers, for which a final text is expected at the June 2011 International Labor Conference. 4